Campaigns News

Norton Lindsey Arms Itself to Save the Pub

On 8th June 2016 Enterprise Inns put The New Inn, Norton Lindsey, up for sale on the open market and closed its doors on 22nd July 2016. Offers have already been received from developers, with no interest from any pub companies, meaning that the village would lose the pub, a historic landmark in the village, having been an Inn since 1750 and an essential hub for the community.

Norton Lindsey Parish Council fortunately registered the pub as an Asset of Community Value (ACV) with Warwick District Council on 27th August 2013. The community used the ACV to their advantage, triggering the expression of interest setting a 6month moratorium. This now gives the village until 8th December 2016 to submit the final bid.

A steering group has been set up to address the various aspects required to make a successful bid. A website (www.salvationsquad.co.uk) and Facebook group (www.facebook.com/groups/Salvationsquad) have been set up to keep everyone in the community informed, as well as reaching out to a wider audience. The Salvation Squad have already had national media interest, with the plight of the pub industry, debating and promoting our focus alongside Colin Valentine, National Chairman, CAMRA.

A community survey has most recently been circulated to all residents to understand interest in investment and community feedback on what facilities we should offer in the pub.

Rob Brook, Chairman of the Steering Group, said "Our vision is to not only save our historic pub, but to turn it into a hub for the community with additional facilities, which the community feels is appropriate.

We only have a limited amount of time to get our act together, for us to stand a chance at purchasing the New Inn, and whilst the community are committed to this action, we are not a big village with approximately 139 households, so we need to extend our reach and would be looking to have both a community share offer and a crowd funding option, for people further afield who want to help us to be the salvation of The New Inn."

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Anyone interested in supporting and investing with us should contact us by emailing: fundraising@salvationsquad.co.uk